Oh, the usual. I mutter about inconsiderate drivers, slack-jawed with horror at the latest nonsense of deranged politicians. I huff and I puff about all and sundry. I never actually do very much about any of it.
I vote because I believe people went to a lot of trouble to secure me the right, and it feels at the very least inconsiderate not to acknowledge that by exercising it.
I have never gone on a march or protested. I would defend your right to do it, but I fail to see how it changes anything. It always seems a lot of effort for very little actual change. You may well have examples of how this or that raised voice altered the course of history.
Of course, there are, but I would argue that they were part of a wider, concerted effort, and that generally speaking, it is a waste of everyone’s time, and I would only end up cold in the process.
Given the opportunity, I don’t shy away from standing tall, speaking out, or taking on a Goliath, and I have had my moments. I have resigned on principle, thrown hats into rings, added my voice, and tackled injustice both in courts and in the street.
Complaining is a very specific thing but comes in various guises. Like many others, I am incensed by the consistently dreadful service we suffer from delivery companies. I have known large parcels to be covered with our doormat and ‘left in a safe place,’ apparently.
A box of expensive clothes where the delivery person walked up our path, took a photo of our door sans parcel, then left and threw our parcel and another into the garden of a neighbour down the street. It defied logic, and to this day we have no idea what it achieved.
The inability of people to reach out and knock or ring our door also defies logic. Until it is in my hand, you have not delivered it; you got close, I will give you that, you did a really good job, but you fell at the last hurdle. You need to actually do the delivering bit of your remit.
The ability to contact anyone with any kind of speed and have it dealt with has been removed entirely. Companies hide behind customer service emails that require you to wait up to three working days for a response.
The hours that must be wasted by humanity right now dealing with endless shoddy service in all kinds of areas must be vast.
Nobody returns calls. People behave as if the last thing they want is your money or business. If you ever question how something has been done, or imply that they are doing less than you expected, or heaven forbid actually criticise them, you risk them bursting into tears or, worse, making a formal complaint about you.
There is a basic premise that seems to have been forgotten. When we purchase things, when we pay for a service, we are entering into a contract, an agreement. I give you money and you provide or do this, not almost, or kind of, not when you feel like it. In the agreed time frame, fit for purpose. Until you do that, you still owe me.
While we were not looking, it seems we now just hand over money and wait however long it takes, wait in on any day they choose, and if it doesn’t work, it is all down to things out of their control. Or their policy.
Nobody can be held responsible. There is an unexpected, intolerable, unprecedented number of phone calls to deal with, so, you know, just wait.
Staff are dealing with another customer. You can look at our website, where you will find nothing of any earthly use, and the FAQs are never the questions you want to ask.
A Manager/Supervisor is never available. A refund isn’t possible. There is nothing that can be done. All we can do is apologise.
Sometimes I do things…
I have insisted on a personal apology, face to face from an airline employee, with the assurance that I absolutely will not be getting on their plane and they will have to find my luggage before they can take off. They did as I requested.
Raised my voice to say quite loudly that I did not appreciate being talked to in that manner, which miraculously caused a manager to appear within thirty seconds — who, look at that, did seem to be present in the store after all.
My favourite one is to calmly refuse ever to show my receipt as proof of purchase at the exit door of a store, on the basis that you have been stood there watching me queue, pay and then walk straight towards you. If you think I am a shoplifter, call the police. I dare you.
As for the argument that it is not this poor sales person’s fault, well, they represent their company, and if they are paid to quote policy and excuses to me, then I have every right of reply.
In fairness to myself, I go out of my way to praise good service, thank people for exceptional effort, and tip accordingly when it is deserved.
I hardly write reviews, as I don’t work for the company marketing department, so I feel no need to use my valuable time to promote them. I never click on, fill in, or in any way comply with requests to rate anyone. If you want your staff appraised, do it on your own time. I don’t work for you.
There is only one reason you will hear from me, and that is if you have failed to fulfil your side of the contract we agreed. If that is a problem for you, then close your business and go and find something else to do. In this role, your job —your only reason for me interacting with you — is because you have something I want, and I have given you some of my hard-earned money to pay for it. So … where is it?
Yeah, I complain. About all kinds of things. As and when the need arises.